​Metallicareleased their live album S&M on this day in 1999, complete with the San Francisco Symphony! Composed and conducted by Michael Kamen, this album was recorded at the Berkley Community Theatre and was a great fusion of genres to see off the 20th century. It received numerous accolades, with "Call Of Ktulu" earning a Grammy Award in 2001 for ‘Best Rock Instrumental Performance’ as well as a Metal Edge Reader’s Choice Award for Compilation album of the year. Check out "For Whom The Bell Tolls" off of S&M below.

S&M has also sold over 8 million copies and by 2003 it had been certified 5x platinum. Personally, I really love this album because of how well written the arrangements are considering it’s being written for Metallica. Kamen had his work cut out for him composing parts for song like "Battery" and "Master Of Puppets" but he managed to give these thrash songs a whole new dimension. The sound is just so full and I suspect that the recording doesn’t do justice to what it was like to experience it in person in front of a full symphony. It was included in NME’s list of ’50 Greatest Live Albums’ so give it a listen to it if you haven’t already- Happy 18th Birthday, S&M!